Non-Forceful Non-Conformity
An invitation to explore answers to nagging questions through self-inquiry
Being different, thinking different, feeling different presents a challenge. It means never really fitting in. It also means sitting with some rather unpleasant emotions. While conformity feels inauthentic and uncomfortable, non-conformity makes one question their sanity. So, it seems the choice comes down to which feeling we can tolerate more, questioning our sanity or the ick of conformity.
Social media has exploded in less than 20 years. It’s literally changed the course of politics (as new research reveals). It’s changed our culture. It’s engendered polarization and hatred. And the form of “connection” that it promises is dubious at best. Am I truly connected to someone who likes my posts, or someone whose posts I regularly like? Maybe if our mutual liking and commenting spins off into a DM conversation, or less frequently to a Zoom call or an actual in-person meeting, such things that are extremely rare.
More to the point, social media’s explosion has come about precisely because it encourages conformity. Each time we get more likes, shares, and comments we receive a little hit of dopamine. (They like what I’m posting. Translation: they like me.) And each time our content reaches a room of chirping crickets we think we’re not good enough. Which engenders a thought and a drive to create content that results in more likes, shares, and comments. Thus conforming to what we think people will like so we can receive the dopamine hit.
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